Jammu, Mar 19: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Raman Suri has called upon the public to use gas and petroleum products judiciously amid emerging signs of an energy crisis triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle east. He said that while there is no panic buying of petrol and diesel at present, a shortage of LPG (cooking gas) cylinders is increasingly being witnessed across Jammu Kashmir, particularly in the Jammu division. He noted that this situation stands in contrast to claims of regular supply by authorities.
“Despite the Union Government doing its best to ensure uninterrupted availability, the ground reality suggests otherwise. Long queues for LPG cylinders and reports of black marketing are surfacing from multiple locations,” Suri said adding that this needs to be checked regularly and not occasionally or symbolically.
He further highlighted that although the administration has issued warnings against hoarding and constituted district-level monitoring teams, the effectiveness of these measures remains questionable. “Raids have been conducted in certain areas, but hoarding continues. It appears that enforcement is largely limited to official meetings and procedural formalities,” he added. Describing the current situation as an early warning, Suri cautioned that the crisis could deepen if the international conflict persists.
He stressed the need for a proactive and strict approach by the administration to prevent escalation. Raman Suri urged the government to take stringent action against hoarders and black marketers, especially those involved in illegal stockpiling of LPG cylinders. “There must be zero tolerance for those trying to exploit the situation for personal gain,” he asserted.
